The Moment Jessica Mah Swapped Being Stubborn for Savvy

 

In this hilarious video from The Next Web, our CEO and co-founder, Jessica Mah, talks about how she stopped being so stubborn and thinking she had all the answers.

In the first iteration of indinero, we had amazing growth, flattering publicity, and tens of thousands of customers using our simple app.

But the business model was shaky.

“We had created a vitamin instead of a painkiller.” —Jessica Mah

But, even as the company crumbled around her, Jessica says she still felt invincible. It wasn’t until a tough conversation with Steve Blank, renowned Silicon Valley mentor and indinero investor, that Jessica realized the company wasn’t going well.

“He saw through all my crap,” she says.

That was the beginning of the pivot, but there was still some major drama to overcome: unhappy customers and serious tension with our chief technology officer, Andy Su.

By facing these challenges head on, Jessica and Andy were able to strengthen their friendship and change indinero to what it is today: a team of experts that help small businesses manage their accounting and taxes, plus an insights-focused dashboard.

 

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Summary

This article recounts how InDinero CEO Jessica Mah transitioned from being stubborn to adopting a more savvy approach to business. After initial growth, the company faced a shaky business model and significant challenges, including unhappy customers and internal tension. With guidance from mentor Steve Blank and collaboration with CTO Andy Su, Mah navigated these issues, leading to the company's current focus on accounting and tax services for small businesses.

Key Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the initial business model of InDinero?

The initial business model of InDinero was described as a 'vitamin instead of a painkiller,' leading to shaky foundations despite initial growth and publicity.

Who was instrumental in helping Jessica Mah realize the company wasn't doing well?

Steve Blank, a renowned Silicon Valley mentor and InDinero investor, had a tough conversation with Jessica Mah that made her realize the company's struggles.

What were some of the major challenges InDinero faced after the initial realization?

Major challenges included unhappy customers and serious tension with the chief technology officer, Andy Su.

How did facing challenges transform InDinero?

By facing these challenges head-on, Jessica Mah and Andy Su were able to strengthen their friendship and transform InDinero into a team of experts helping small businesses with accounting and taxes, featuring an insights-focused dashboard.

Related Entities

People
Jessica Mah, Steve Blank, Andy Su, Rebecca Wilson
Companies
InDinero, The Next Web, Bench Accounting, Graphite Financial
Products
insights-focused dashboard